Guns International #: 102753547
Seller's Inventory #: 1

Category - Antique Rifles - Flintlock - Antique Rifles - 1500-1850

Category
Antique Rifles - Flintlock
Antique Rifles - 1500-1850

1766 Charleville.69 caliber

Description:
A very interesting Model M1766 French Charleville musket with US stamped on lock and a U States brand burned into the stock overlaid with name of owner "C. Bunyan". The barrel of this musket was cut back during use to 31 1/4 inches to convert this to a short carbine like weapon to be carried by a US Army Waggoner. We believe this is the weapon carried during the Revolutionary War by Private Conrad Bunyan who served in the Company of Captain Jeremiah Ballard in the 3rd New Jersey Regiment commanded by Col. Elias Drayton. This regiment was converted to the 2nd New Jersey Regiment later in the war and Private Conrad Bunyan continued to serve under Captain Jeremiah Ballard and Col. Elias Drayton. In a company roster dated January 25, 1782 Private Bunyan is specifically identified as "Waggoner for Col. Drayton" We close a scan of this roster along with an earlier one when they were all still designated as part of The 3rd New Jersey Regiment. The US surcharge on the lock and the Charleville inscription on the lock are very sharp suggesting that the conversion of the original musket to a cut down waggoner's side arm carbine took place early in its service possibly after the end of the original barrel and stock were damaged in fighting. A very interesting historic item. It appears to have been taken home by Private Bunyan at the end of The Revolution and converted about 1835 to percussion cap by a local gunsmith who simply inserted a bar of steel into and over tge jaws of the original flintlock. Very unusual and definitely a local gunsmith conversion rather than one done by an arsenal.... which preserves the original flint hammer intact. 
 
    This is the history of the gun ive since had the gun fully restored by a profesional in Rhode Island gun smith specializing in rev war arms the gun is a 1766 with parts of a 1763 (trigger guard) likely making it an early 1766 verision. The reconfiguration  consisting of  creation and fitting of a new forearm spliced in and lengthened barrel reconverted back to its original  configuration of a flintlock reconverted lock as well added bayonet lug spliced missing pieces of the cock fitted lock to barrel cleaned and aged the replacement parts hardened the frizzin, tempering of frizzen spring, lenghtened the cut down rammer, cleaned & patina to the entire gun, manufactored and created frizzen and frizzen spring screws. the work is done very well with a nice original presentation.
the replacement parts are all aged and have added patina they consist of all 3 barrel bands with associated springs 2 sling swivels frizzen & spring and pan with pan scew only evrything else is original and well marked with US Surcharge on butt and lock plate.

lot 487t2h2t577yy8 

SOLD

Antique: Yes
Rifle Caliber: .69
Manufacturer: Charleville
Model: 1766
Serial Number: Unknown
Barrel Length: 39
Bore: Smooth
Chambers: None
Ejectors: Mone
Condition: Good
Metal Condition: Good
Wood Condition: Good
Bore Condition: Good
Barrels: 1
Barrel Type: Smooth
Action: Flintlock
Triggers: 1
Stock: Wood
Stock Dimensions:
28
Stock Drop: 2
Stock Comb: None
Stock Heel: None
Stock Cast: Metal
Butt Pad: Brass
LOP: 1
Rib: 0
Weight: 29
Sights: Top
Manufacture Date: 1766
Chokes: None
Choke Left: None
Choke Right: Mone
Engraving: US Charleville
Extras: None
Case: Mo
Item Location: Portsmouth NH
Proof:Nitro: None
Proof:Black: None
Minimum Wall Thickness Left: None
Minimum Wall Thickness Right: None